In conversation with Kyla Kukard
Kukard’s work is often influenced by themes of anxiety and the way in which the human body and mind navigates such feelings. Within this series Kukard uses the medium of soap to highlight the psychological relationship between the idea of cleansing and the act of creation.
Her first piece titled “FUN-SIZE”, which equates to the way in which “cute” and “small” are branded in our modern consumerist society. This artwork was created in response to an article on IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) which is the process of fertilization an egg with a sperm outside of the body. The article looked at specifically celebrity Chrissy Teigen and outlined how she received backlash from the public regarding her decision, despite it being known that she is unable to conceive a child “naturally”.
This artwork, “FUN-SIZE”, through the use of the chosen material (soap) explores the man-made process of creation, in her case Kukard takes the medium and carves by hand the object, the significance of this act is seen in how the human hand and therefore human will power is able to alter the structure of a pre-existing form/life force. The dynamic rough lines and solid shape of the green soap “hand” comes from Kukards aim in allowing the imperfections to contrast the idea of “perfect” and how in the end a parent has little to no control in the final outcome of the child, this speaks through within Kukard’s work. The use of green as a colour palette for this piece pertains to the notion of an ungendered somewhat “alien” colour, showing how the artist feels in relation to the topic and the naturalistic nature of human child birth.
Her second and final artwork of the series titled “Agitated” combats themes of anxiety and the way people deal with it. This piece speaks personally of the artist in both its physicality and figurative meaning. The artwork takes the form of a crumpled up bus ticket, Kukard claims to take the bus frequently and had therefore chosen to take inspiration from these surroundings and incorporate it into her work. Kukard speaks of the anxious feelings that arise when on the bus.
Kukard’s aim with this artwork was to depict the action she associates with the anxiety felt on the bus, this comes in the form of the bus ticket, crumpled and rumpled. It is the act of scrunching the ticket that is then the product of the anxiety felt. Kukard instills a “paperish feel” to this soap sculpture , now playing with a denser soap. She keeps an textured unfinished feel to the work, keeping it rough to tie in with the idea of uncomfortability and agitation. The colour of this artwork contrasts the idea of anxiety being a grey colour as the artist uses a light pastel blue. Blue being a colour that is often associated with strength, stability and confidence.
In displaying her works, Kukard plays on the roles of engagement and interactivity. This is seen in her choice to display her work “FUN-SIZE” with the hand up, palm facing towards the viewer, while her piece “Agitated” goes against what is usually expected of a bus ticket. Kukard chooses to display the work in a way that allows for interpretation from all angles, as this contrasts regular life cycle of a bus ticket, a life that usually ends with the ticket being discarded into a bin or worse, the floor.
As an artist that mainly works with the practice of layering, Kukard expressed slight distaste for the method of reductive sculpture, however was able to overcome issues with it. Kukard finds joy in the natural process in both her art and daily life.
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